1 in every 5 persons in Chennai is hypertensive
One in every five persons in Chennai is hypertensive, according to a study. A majority are unaware of it. And even those undergoing treatment do not have their condition under control.The results of the just published study in the Journal of Associated Physicians of India (JAPI) were culled from the Chennai Rural Epidemiology Study (CURES) conducted by researchers at Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre here.Over 2,300 persons, 20 years and above, were surveyed in the third phase of the study, the first two determining and establishing the prevalence of diabetes and its complications. Hypertension was diagnosed based on drug treatment for hypertension or if the blood pressure was more than 140/90.While the overall prevalence of hypertension was 20 per cent, it was higher among men (23.2 per cent) than women (17.1 per cent). Those with hypertension satisfied the characteristic risk factors: they were older, had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio, besides higher cholesterol levels. However, even those in the age group of 20-29, 3.8 per cent of the men were hypertensive as against 3.1 per cent women. Among diabetics, the percentage of hypertensives was just over double at 40.8. Over half of them had undiagnosed hypertension and control was poor at 22.1 per cent.
In an editorial in the same May issue of JAPI, Shashank Joshi and Rakesh Parikh have said the prevalence of hypertension in the study is 50 per cent higher than that reported from New Delhi in the Inersalt Study conducted two decades ago. These figures, they argue, are likely to get India to yet another label in the coming years: Hypertension Capital of the World.V. Mohan, director, Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, said: "It is obvious that considerable effort is needed to prevent or reduce the increasingly large burden of the disease related to increasing rates of hypertension in India." Since the various risk factors associated with hypertension — age, body mass, waist hip ratio and glucose intolerance — were also the reason for other non-communicable diseases, the study could be the tip of the iceberg.
The paper pointed out: "It took at least 30-40 years of sustained effort to substantially improve hypertension detection and control in the Western countries, and the rates are still far from optimal." In comparison, India obviously has a long way to go to accomplish the goal of optimal control among the population. The key, Dr. Mohan said, was to mitigate the risk factors with certain lifestyle changes. Quitting smoking, engaging in energetic physical activity, eating healthy and keeping the body mass at the right level would help prevent hypertension.
